Check and envelope assembly



A ril 22, 1958 w. H. JAMES, JR, El AL 2,831,707

CHECK AND ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 18, 1955 H WRDEEMFQ John D02 a l7 North HI St. lL TulsmOkmL INVENTORS William 115 Jiuzzes, J2.

Rex 22 Walker BY 5M ATTORNEYS United States Patent CHECK AND ENVELOPE ASSEMBLY William H. James, Jr., and Rex E. Walker, Tulsa, ()l-rla.

Application November 18, 1955, Serial No. 547 ,814

1 Claim. (Cl. 283-58) This invention relates to check books, and particularly to individual units to be assembled into said check book, each unit comprising a check blank, a check stub or voucher, and a cover flap integrally secured to the check whereby it may be folded to overlie the check after removal thereof from the booklet or assembly and constitute an envelope for mailing the same.

In general, the invention comprises a unitary assembly comprising a check stub or voucher of generally rectangular shape and a sheet of the same shape and size overlying the same and hingedly secured thereto. of the overlying sheet, adjacent the hinged edge, is perforated along a line generally parallel to the hinged edge but spaced therefrom and the remainder of the overlying sheet comprises a more or less conventional check blank. One longitudinal edge of the check blank has an integral cover flap secured thereto which can be folded to over lying relation to the check and adhesive material for sealing the cover flap to the check blank to constitute an outer cover or envelope for mailing. The cover flap is provided with a window opening therethrough through which the name and address of the payee, as written on the check, is visible as the address for the mailing piece.

The assemblies described are provided with perforations so that a plurality of them can be assembled into a check book. It is contemplated that, upon filling out successive checks, a sheet of carbon paper be placed between the check blank and the stub therebelow so that all of the matter written on the check blank is reproduced on the stub for the senders permanent record. The stub is provided with indicia defining a record space directly underlying that portion of the check in which the amount thereof is normally inserted. Thus the amount for which the check is written is simultaneously recorded on the stub to facilitate carrying forward the balance in the checking account.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel check, stub, and envelope assembly wherein the check and envelope are integral and no separate envelope need be provided for mailing the same.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a check and stub assembly wherein all necessary information is reproduced on the check stub simultaneously with filling out of the check itself.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a blank check book assembly unit of such nature that a plurality of said units may be assembled into a check book wherein old stubs may be removed and new check blank assemblies inserted at will without the necessity of using an entirely new book of check blanks.

Further and additional objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an assembly or unit of the present invention with the parts thereof shown in partially opened condition;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly or unit of Fig.

The portion 2,831,707 Patented Apr. 22, 1958 1, showing the same after the check has been filled out; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 2, after the cover flap has been sealed to the check to form an envelope therewith and the envelope and check separated from the stub.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the assembly of the present invention comprises a sheet of paper or the like 2, of generally rectangular outline and comprising a check stub. Hingedly connected to one end of the stub 2, along a fold line 4, is a second sheet of the same size and shape as the stub 2 and comp-rising a tab portion 6 and check blank portion 8. The tab 6 and stub 2 may be integral or may be separate sheets suitably joined and hinged together along the line 4, as desired. The check blank portion 8 is integrally joined to the tab portion 6 along a row of perforations 10 whereby the check may be readily separated from the tab 6, as will be described later. A cover fiap 12 is integrally joined to the check blank 8 along a fold line 14 defining the lowermost edge of the check blank 8. The cover flap 12 is of the same size and shape as the check blank 8 so as to completely cover the same when folded, along line 14, into overlying relation thereto.

The check blank 8 is provided with the usual printed indicia thereon, and particularly with lines defining a space 16 in which the name and address of the payee is to be inserted. Further indicia on the check blank define the usual space 18 in which the payer writes the amount of the check in numerals.

The check stub 2 is provided with printed indicia thereon defining, among other things, a space 20 for the name and address of the payee and a space 22 for the amount of the check identified thereby. The spaces 20 and 22 directly underlie corresponding spaces 16 and 18 on the check blank when the latter is folded down into overlying relation to the stub 2.

The cover flap 12 is provided with a windowopening 24 within the boundaries thereof and in position to overlie the space 16 when the cover flap is folded over the check, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The upper edge of the check blank 8 is provided with a narrow band of adhesive material 26 extending substantially to the upper edge of the check and located between that edge and a row of perforations 28 through the check blank.

The tab 6 and stub 2 are further provided with aligned holes or openings 30 so that a plurality of the assemblies shown in Fig. 1 may be assembled into booklet form by inserting suitable fastening elements through the openings 30 of a plurality of such assemblies.

When the user of the check assembly desires to write and mail a check to a certain payee, he may first insert a sheet of carbon paper 32 (see Fig. 2) between the check blank 8 and its corresponding stub 2. Thereafter the check may be completed in the usual manner by noting thereon the date, check number, name and address of the payee, the amount of the check, and the signature of the payer. All of the matter written on the check blank 8 is thereupon reproduced on the stub 2 and the amount in particular is reproduced on the stub 2 in proper position and relation to additional indicia thereon arranged to facilitate carrying forward to successive check stubs the balance remaining in the account on which the check is drawn. I

It is to be understood that the carbon paper referred to herein may be a snap-out disposable sheet assembled between each check and stub, may be a separate reusable manually insertable sheet, or may be a sheet attached to a booklet of the described assemblies and foldable to positions between successive checks and stubs. The carbon paper itself and its manner of combining with the assemblies is not a part of this invention.

After completion of the check to the condition shown in Fig. 2, the check 8 is removed from the tab 6 along the row of perforations 10 and the cover flap 12 is folded thereover and its free edge caused to adhere to the band of adhesive material 26. At that time the parts appear as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings and it will be noted that the name and address of the payee is visible through the window opening 24 in the cover flap. Thus, it is only necessary for the payer to complete the check itself and he thereby does all the writing necessary to provide the required information on his check stub and he simultaneously addresses the envelope by which the check is to be mailed.

While the drawings illustrate a cover flap 12 having a cut-out opening 24 therein, it is obvious that the opening 24 need not be left completely open but may be covered by a transparent film of any known or desirable type. Further, the paper or sheet material from which the assembly is fabricated may, by proper treatment, he rendered transparent in the area overlying the name and address space 16 without actually cutting the material thereof.

When the payee receives the sealed mailing piece shown in Fig. 3, he may readily open the same by tearing along the perforated line 28. If desired, the fold line 14 may be a row of perforations to further facilitate separation of the check 8 and cover flap 12 by the payee.

While a single specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the same is merely illustrative. The invention defined by the appended claims contemplates other I modifications.

We claim:

A check, stub, and envelope assembly, comprising; a rectangular sheet comprising a check stub, a rectangular check blank having a rectangular tab integrally joined to one end thereof along a row of perforations, said check blank and integral tab comprising a sheet the same size as said check stub and superimposed thereover, the edge of said tab opposite said row of perforations being 'hingedly joined to an end of said check stub, a cover flap the same size as said check blank integrally joined thereto along a second edge thereof adjacent said one end whereby said cover flop may be folded to overlie and cover said check blank, indicia on said check blank defining a space for the name and address of the payee thereof, a window in said cover flap arranged to overlie said space when said flap covers said check whereby the name and address of said payee is visible therethrough, a narrow band of adhesive material along a third edge of said check blank opposite said second edge for securing the free edge of said cover flap thereto, a row of perforations along the inner edge of said band of adhesive, and said tab and said check stub being provided with aligned openings therethrough for receiving fastening means whereby a plurality of said assemblies may be releasably fastened together in book form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 846,064 Souder Mar. 5, 1907 1,424,837 Lover Aug. 8, 1922 1,946,751 McCarthy Feb. 13, 1934 1,960,054 Johnson May 22, 1934 2,072,040 Lee et a1. Feb. 23, 1937 2,260,602 Brenn Oct. 28, 1941 2,396,221 Yancey Mar. 5, 1946 

